Liner hanger



Sept. 9, 1947;' L. SPENCER LINERHANGER y Fi1ed oc. 1, 1941 :s sheets-sheet 1 sept. 9, 1947.

L. SPENCER l y2,427,336)

EINER HANGER Filed oct. 1, 1941 s' 3 Sheets-Sheet I 2 Sept. 9, 1947. Y L.. SPENCER 2,427,330

LINER HANGER y l Filed oct. 1, 1941 'z ssreets-shee@ 5 lNvENroR F1512 @QM d ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1947 LINER HANGER Lloyd Spencer, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a

corporation of Delaware Application october 1, 1941, serial No. 413,197

12T Claims.

My invention relates to liner hangers; that is, to devices designed-to engage a well casing for the purpose ofsuspending therefrom a liner, usually perforated, which extends below the casing into the producing zone of the oil well. Among the objects of my invention are: k

First, to provide a liner hanger, the wallthickness of lwhich need be no greater than theliner which it supports, yso that for a' given 'size of cas-v ing a liner of maximum diameter'may be inserted, with a full gauge opening through the liner hanger into the liner;

- Second, to provide a liner hanger which incorporates `a novel slip construction wherein theslips may be equal to ifnot actually greater than the wall thickness `of the liner Vhanger itself, thus providing a liner hanger which, although constructed with a minimum wall thickness, is provided .with large sturdy slips of maximum area for engagement with the casing 1 Third, to provide a liner hanger and setting tool which are so arranged that should the liner hanger accidentally become'disconnected from the setting tool the slips of the liner'hanger are automatically released, so that the liner .hanger functions as a tubing catcher to engage the walls ofthe casing and arrest downward movement of the liner and prevent its falling to the bottom of the well; Y

Fourth, to provide a liner hanger which, for a given clearance between the liner hanger and the surrounding casing,'offers a minimum amount of 'resistancevv to circulationof fluid therebetween, there being no slip cages or other obstruction protruding from the normal diameter ofthe liner hanger;

' Fifth, to provide a liner hanger Iwhich, after the slips are set, forms auxiliary internalby-pass ports around the slips so that 'the effective circulation area is not diminished by the setting of the s1ips,-thus facilitating washing and cleaning of the formation laround the liner below;

Sixth, to provide a lnerhanger and setting tool therefor wherein the slips initially project through the liner into the interior thereof and are initially restrained by the setting tool, so that rem-oval of the setting tool from within the liner hanger automatically releases the slips Seventh, to provide a liner hanger and setting tool wherein the liner hanger comprises a minimum number of parts and wherein many of the parts normally present in a conventional liner hanger constitute lelements of the setting tool and may therefore be removed for repeated use; and

Eighth, to provide a liner hanger and setting tool'wherein the setting tool is free of internal obstruction or sliding connection, so that a unip form diameter passage may be had through the tubing, setting tool and the'wash pipe, and wash fluid ror cement, or various well tools, rrnaypass through ythe setting tool. Y l y WithV the above rand other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, referenceis directedv to the accompanying drawings, in which: 'f Figures 1 through 7 show one formfof my liner hanger, in which: I

Figure l is an elevational View of onefformof my liner hanger in its initial position, the setting tool from which they line hanger is suspended and the liner attached to the liner hanger being shown fragmentarily; v

Figure'Z is a longitudinal sectional view'through the liner, taken through 2--2 of Figure 1 and showing the setting tool partially in elevation therein, the parts being shown in the positions assumed when the liner is being lowered into-the well bore; Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View similar to Figure 2, showing the position of the parts when the liner is engaged by means of its slipswith a surrounding casing, the setting tool being shown partially disconnectedl from the liner; l e

Figlles 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional vieWS through 4 4, 5-5 and (if-B, respectively, of Figure 1 with the setting tool omitted; and

Figure 'l isvanY elevational view of one` of the slips as viewedfrom its inner side. Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 show,r a modified form of my liner hanger and setting tool, in which:

Figure l831s an elevational viewrof my' liner hanger and setting tool showing the parts y,in the positions assumed when running into the well, and showing fragmentarily the tubingv string, liner and wash pipe; v f Figure 9 is alongitudinal sectional view; through 9-9 of Figure 8 with a portion of th'e setting tool shown in elevation and indicatingby'dotted lines the positions of the parts when'the slips of ,the liner, hanger are released; and v l, Fgures l0 and 11 are enlargedtransverse sectional vevvs taken through llll0 and llp1ll, respectively, of Figure 8. A

Figures 12 and 13 show a modified means of connection between the setting tool and liner hanger body, in which: Figure 12 is a fragmentary partial elevational,

partial sectional view of the setting tool with theV liner hanger body shown fragmentarily, theA section being taken substantially through I2-I2 of Figure 13; and

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view thereof through I 3-I3 of Figure 12.

Figures 14, and 16 illustrate a further modifled form of my liner hanger, in which:

Figure 14 is an elevational View thereof with a portion broken away and in section, the parts being shown in their initial positions as the liner is lowered into the well; and

Figures 15 and 16 are transverse sectional views through I5-I5 and I6--I6, respectively, of Figure 14.

Reference is rst directed to Figures 1 th'rough 7: The liner hanger here illustrated comprises a cylindrical body I, preferably having the same inside diameter as the liner which it is adapted to suspend, and the same outside diameter as the collars which connect the sections of the liner.

The body is provided near its upper end with slots 2 which are formed by cutting downwardly through the body, so that the upper portions of the slots or openings form inclined slip expanding faces 3. Each inclined slip expanding face preferably comprises a central flat surface and flanking fiat surfaces at obtuse angles therewith,

so that a transverse section throughthe slip expanding face forms a section of a polygon, as shown in Figure 4. The side surface of each slip expanding face 3 is provided. with undercut side grooves 4.

Each slot receives a slip 5 of wedge shape longitudinal section whose inner side forms wedge faces 6 conforming to the slip expanding faces 3. The outer side of each slipv is grooved or serrated to form wickers 'I for engagementl with a surrounding well casing, as shown in Figure 3. The vertical, radially inner margins of the slips 5 are provided with ribs 8 which coact with the side grooves 4. The slips are thus restrained to a sliding movement along the slip expanding faces 3.

Below the slots 2 the body I is provided with a reduced portion 9; that is, its wall thickness is reduced. The lower end of the body I is screwthreaded for connection to a coupling I which in turn is joined to a liner A. The reduced portion 9 receives a coil spring II, at the upper end of which' is positioned a slidable collar I2 having fingers I3 which extend upwardly to the upper end of the reduced portion S and through guide slots I5 cut into the body I below each of the slips 5. The fingers I3 bear against the slips 5 so that the spring II exerts an upward pressure on the slips 5 for moving them upwardly and outwardly from the lower or retracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the outer or extended casing engaging position shown in Figure 3.

The slips are initially restrained against such upward movement by means of a setting tool mandrel I5 which extends into the body member and is provided with a threaded connection I E. The threaded connection I6 is preferably a square, left-handed thread so thatI the connection may be easily made or broken. The lower portion of the setting tool mandrel is provided with a slipretaining flange I'I which, when the mandrel is screwed into the body I, is opposite the lower orthicker ends of the slips 5. Here the slips are provided with slip-retainer channels I8 into which the flange I'I nts. A wash pipe B may be attached to the lower end of the mandrel I5 and extend into lthe liner A.

Operation of the liner hanger is as follows;

4 The liner hanger and setting tool are initially connected together as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and lowered into the well bore on a tubing string or the like (not shown). The liner is lowered to the bottom of the well bore so as to hold the liner hanger against rotation and thereupon the setting tool is rotated in a direction to partially unscrew th'e connection I6. This releases the slips 5 which are urged upwardly into engagement with the surrounding casing by the spring I I, as shown in Figure 3. The liner hanger may then be raised a few feet until the liner is clear of the bottom of the well. Thereupon weight is applied to the tubing string, wedging the slips between the liner and casing. After this is accomplished the setting tool is again rotated to completely disconnect the mandrel I5 from the body I. The setting tool may then be withdrawn.

It should be noted, however, that with this arrangement a slip joint, such as that disclosed in Patent No. 1,944,481, issued January 23, 1934, is preferably employed between the mandrel I5 and the tub-ing string so that weightl may be taken off the threaded connection I; otherwise this connection might bind.

Reference is now directed to Figures 8 through 1l: rIhe liner hanger itself is essentially the same as that described in Figures 1 through 7 and therefore similar parts are given similar reference characters. rlhe essential difference is that the reduced portion 9 continues upwardly to a point above the slot 2 and the fingers I3 are omitted so that the collar I2 bears directly against .the slips. With this construction the wall thickness of the liner is preferably somewhat greater than that in Figure 1 in order to provide adequate strength between the slots 2. l

The setting-tool, however, departs from the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The setting tool comprises a tubular mandrel 3I which is joined to an adapter 32. This inturn is joined to a coupling provided at the lower end of the tubing string C'. The adapter 32 is a short tubular member having external threads 33 (preferably square threads) which coact with internal threads of an upper sleeve member 34. The up per sleeve member 3d is joined to a lower sleeve member 35, a collar 33 is slidably mounted on the lower sleeve member and this collar is connected by cage springs 31 to the upper end of the upper y sleeve member 34. The cage springs frictionally engage the side walls of a surrounding casing and are preferably set helically so that as the setting tool is lowered into the well the sleeve members tend to rotate in a direction to screw downwardly on the adapter 32.

The lower end of the lower sleeve member 35 is provided with a ilange 33 which corresponds to the slip-retaining flange I'I of the iirst described setting tool. The flange 38 therefore engages the slip-retainer channels I8 to initially restrain the slips in their lower position, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Below the collar 33, but above the body I, the lower sleeve member 35 is provided with a shoulder 39 which bears against the upper end of the body I when the ilange 38 is in the proper position for restraining engagement with the slips 5.

The lower end of the mandrel 3l is connected by a coupling fle to a journal member 4I which in turn is connected to a suitable wash pipe B extending downwardly within the liner. The journal member 4I journals a ring 42, preferably on ball bearings. The ring 42 is connected to the coupling I l) of the liner hanger by means of shear pins 43 which extend inwardly 'through the couplingl Operation of the setting tooland liner hanger shown in Figures 8 through 11 is as follows: The setting tool and liner hangerA are'initially in the solid line position shown in Figures 8 and 9; that is', the cage structure, comprising the sleeve members and cage springs, occupies a lower position onthethreads 33, the spring VII is compressed and the'slips are in 'their lower position. i 5 YWhen fthedesired location is reached the tubing is'V rotated. By reason of the frictions; engagement between the cage springs andthe surrounding walls of the casing the cageY does not rotate, thus the cage may be caused to travel upwardly on the threads 33 until the flangef43 releases the slips 5. The setting tool is still attachedy to the liner by vreason of the shear'pins 38. lAfter the slips are released the settingtool is moved'downward to shear the pins 43, it being noted that aftery the slips are released Ythe shoulder 39 is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 9, so that the ring 42 may be moved ,downward suiliciently to shearthe'pins'betfore reengagement of the shoulderv 39. f 'y UIn going into the well, thaty is withthe parts in the positions shown by solid lines` in Figure 9, any upward thrust on the liner due to engagement of the lower end of the liner, with an obstruction in the well, is not taken by the shear pins 43' but taken by the shoulder 39, the shear pins merely carrying the weight rof the liner. YBy reason of the helical arrangement of the cage springs 3l the shoulder is continually urged downwardly into engagementv with the body to eliminate any slack. However, should Athe shear pins giveway accidentally the slipsV are automatically released as the setting tool and liner `hanger separate and the liner hanger acts as a tubing catcher to erigage the casing and prevent the liner from falling` to the bottom of the well.r It is thenlonly necessaryto lower a suitabletool into the liner hanger and retrieve itV along with the liner.

Reference is now directed to Figures l2 and 13 Ain which a modified kform of connection between the setting tool and liner hangeris illustrated. lInthis construction a key ball and slot arrangement is substituted for the shear pinsiThe remaining parts of the liner hanger and mandrel V'are similar to that shown inthe preceding figures'. In the construction shown in Figures12 and 13 the lower end of the mandrel is joined ito Va journal member 5! which in turn is connected to the Wash pipe B. The journal member/journals a sleeve 52 having a series ofinverted U shapedv slots 53. One leg 54 of each slot is curved helically and is shallowerthan the'other leg5r5, which is'vertical. The lower end of each vertical leg is provided with a cover toform a'pocket 56. `Key holes 51 (shown in Figure 13) vare'provided inthe liner hanger collar l2. Thesel are located so that they are opposite the llower Aend ofthe curved slot when Ythe shoulder 39 bears against the upper end vof the body I and the cage is in its lower position, thev ilange 38'restraining` the slips 5. Each ofthe key holes 51 receive key balls 58 which are held against outward movement by set screws 59.

By reason of the fact that the shoulder 39 bears against the upper end of the body I so that the liner hanger and', therefore, the key balls cannotraise in their curved slots and' relative downward movement of the liner is prevented byreason of engagement of thel key ballswith the'. lower.. end oftheslots, the liner. hanger' is lockedwith respect to the setting tool. When the liner hasr been lowered to the desired position the setting tool is rotated to cause upward movement of the cage comprising vthe springs 31 and sleeve members 34 and 35, which releases the slips. The setting tool is now freeto move downward a limited distance with respecttothe liner, and in doing so the balls, byeengagement with the curved legs of the slots 53, are guided into theV vertical leg which, beingy deeper, permits the key balls yto move radially inwardk and clear of the liner hanger. The balls drop into the pockets providedat the lower ends of the'vertical 1eg-s-55rand the v`setting tool is free tobe removed.' f v f Referenceis now directed to Figures 14, 15 and 16: The vconstruction here shown isv particularly adapted in those cases where the wall thickness of the liner hanger must be reduced toa mini-y mum. It may, however, be used with any'ofthe types of setting tools illustrated. This construction consists of a body El having an upper pair of slots 62 and a lower pair of slots 63 located at right`V angles to the iirst men'tioned'pai'r of slots. The slots are providedwith slip vexpanding faces 3v as lin the first described structures and receive slips 5 which may be similar to the rstdescribed construction. Below the slots` 63 the body 6| is reduced in 'diameter as indicated by'64 'and receives a spring 65 which bears ragainstthe collar 66. The collar 66 engages, or has attached thereto, upwardly directed pairs of fingers 61 and 68. The fingers 61 iit in grooves 69 *and extend upwardly Afor engagement with the upper set of slips coacting with slots 6K2. f The other lingers 68 t in grooves 'Hland extend into engagement with the lower set of slips coacting with slots 63. Asy stated previously, this'construction maybe used in any type of setting tool described hereinbefore, with the exception that a pair of flanges 1| and 'l2 are provided in place of the flanges il or 33. With the arrangement shown inFigures 14, l5 and 16 an increased sec'- tion of body remains between'slotsEZ or 63, In addition, four instead of'threeslips may be provided and consequently the slip area may be increased. 'i f I When the slips are in engagementwith the casing .'they, of course, form an obstruction vto the flow of uid between the casing and the liner hanger.l However, in moving to their casingengaging positions they uncover the slots 2, so that uid may by-pass inwardly between the set# ting tool and liner hanger, theset'ting ktool in suchfiA vcase being raised sufciently after setting the' liner to position the flange l1, 38,y or112', as the case may be, clear of the Vliner hanger;4 It willalsob'e noted that the liner itself isfreeof any cages or other means engagingthe surrounding casingand which might obstruct the-now of nuid, The spring and slips lay close to and withinthe nominal diameter of the liner, so that they oler little yor no obstruction. `The setting tool,5on the kother hand, even though 'provided witha cage, may be smaller in diameter than the linerand, therefore, insure `at least equal if inotl greater circulation area in spite of lthe cage springs. Also, it should be noted,- at least in the'construction shown in Figures 8 through 13,`that the passage through the setting tool may be equal to that in the tubing abovel and the wash pipe below, and in addition be free of any slipjointsthat would interfere with circulation or impede cementing operations, Still further, it should bev-noted, in regard to the construction shown in Figures =8 through 13, that it is not necessary for the liner to set on the; bottom of the well for it is immaterial whether. the liner or liner hanger rotate during rotation of the tubing string for the purpose of releasingthe liner hanger, for only the cage, comprising the cage springs and the upper and lower sleeve, need remain xed and this requires very little force.

Various changes and alternate arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention.

Iclaim:

l. The combination with a tubing string and liner hanger having slips and slip-expanding means wherein the slips are provided with sliprestraining elements which project into the interior of the liner hanger when ythe slips are in their retracted position, of a setting tool comprising: a tubular mandrel rigidly connected with the tubing string and extending into said liner hanger; means forming a separable connection between said mandrel and liner hanger, said separable connection being located below said slips; a cage structure screw-threaded to the exterior of said mandrel above said liner hanger and frictionally engageable with a surrounding well casing, said cage structure including means extending into said liner hanger for restraining said slips in retracted position by engagement with said slip-restrainng elements and adapted to release said elements upon rotation of said tubing string relative to said cage structure; and resilient means operative to move said slips into expanded position upon release of said slip restraining elements.

2. A construction, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separable connection means comprises shear pins adapted to be sheared by relative longitudinal movement of said mandrel and liner hanger.

3. A construction, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separable connection means includes: a collar rotatably mounted on said mandrel; and shear pins connecting said collar with said liner hanger, said pins adapted to be shear-ed by relative longitudinal movement of Said mandrel and liner hanger.

4. A construction, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separable connection means includes: a collar rotatably mounted on said mandrel; key elements extending between said collar and linear hanger; said collar having keyways accommodating said key elements, portions of said keyways being adapted to receive said key elements in their entirety so as to permit release of said key elements from said liner hanger; and means associated with said cage structure for preventing movement of said key elements into the releasing portions of said keyways while said slips are restrained.

5. 'Ihe combination with Ya tubing string and hanger device having slips and slip expanding means wherein the slips are provided with slip restraining elements which project into the interior of the hanger device when the slips are in their retracted position, of a setting tool comprising: a tubular mandrel rigidly connected with the tubing string and extending into said hanger device; means forming a separable connection between said mandrel and hanger device; a cage structure screw-threaded to the exterior of said mandrel above said hanger device and frictionally engageable with a surrounding well casing, said cage structure including means extending into said hanger device for restraining said slips in retracted position by engagement with said sliprestraining elements,A and adapted to release said elements upon rotation of said tubing string in one direction relative to said cage structure; and resilientI means operative to move said slips into expanded position upon release of said slip restraining elements.

6. The combination with a liner hanger having slips and slip expanding means wherein the slips are provided with slip restraining elements which project into the interior of the liner hanger when the slips are in their retracted position, of a setting tool comprising: a tubular mandrel adapted to be rigidly connected with a tubing string and extending into said liner hanger; means forming a separable connection between said mandrel and liner hanger; a cage structure screw-threaded to the exterior of said mandrel and frictionally engageable With a surrounding Well casing, said cage structure including means extending into said liner hanger for restraining said slips in retracted position by engagement with said sliprestraining elements, and adapted to release said Velements upon rotation of said mandrel in one direction relative to said cage structure; and resilien-t means operative to move said slips into extended positions upon release of said slip restraining elements.

'7. A hanger device for use in a .tubing string comprising: a substantially cylindrical slip expander member having an internal bore; slip guide slots formed in said member having inclined slip guide surfaces extending unbrokenly from the exterior to the interior bore of said member; slips in said slots slidably supported on said guide surfaces and adapted to slide thereon from an innermost retracted position wherein the inner ends of said slips protrude into the interior bore of said member to an expanded position wherein the gripping surfaces of said slips protrude beyond the exterior surface of said member; a. mandrel extending into the said bore of said member; a sleeve rotatable on said mandrel and arranged `to occupy a rst position relative to said mandrel in which the sleeve engages the inner, protruding ends of said slips in said bore to restrain said slips in retracted position and, upon rotation of said sleeve relative to said mandrel, to move to a second position relative to said mandrel to release said slips; means to impart rotation to said sleeve relative to said mandrel; and means to urge said slips into expanded position.

8. A liner hanger comprising: a cylindrical body member including a cylindrical slip expander portion, said body member and slip expander portion having substantially equal external diameters; a concentric bore in said body member; slip guide slots formed in said slip expander portion having inclined slip guide surfaces extending unbrokenly from the exterior surface to the interior bore of said body member; Wedge-shaped slips in said slip guide slots, said slips having a maximum thickness substantially equal to the Wall thickness of said slip expander portion of said body, said slips being slidably supported by said inclined guide surfaces for sliding motion from a retracted position in which the inner ends of said slips protrude into the interior bore of said body to an expanded position in which the outer gripping surfaces of said slips protrude beyond the exterior surface of said body member; a .mandrel extending into said body member; a sleeveV axially movable on said mandrel from a irst position in which the sleeve engages the inwardly protruding ends of said slips in said bore and constrains said slips in retracted position to a second position to release said slips for expansion; means to axially move said sleeve with respect to said mandrel from said rst position to said second position; and means to urge said slips into expanded position.

9. A liner hanger comprising: a cylindrical body member including a cylindrical slip expander portion, said body member and slip expander portion having substantially equal external diameters; a concentric bore in said body member: slip guide slots formed in said slip expander portion having inclined slip guide surfaces extending unbrokenly from the exterior surface to the interior bore of said body member; wedge-shaped slips in said slip guide slots, said slips having a maximum thickness substantially equal to the wall thickness of said slip expander portion of said body member, said slips being slidably supported by said inclined guide surfaces for slidable motion from a retracted position in which the inner ends of said slips protrude into said interior bore of said body member, to an expanded position in which the outer gripping surfaces of said slips protrude beyond the exterior surface of said body member; a mandrel extending into said body member and detachably attached thereto with freedom for rotation relative to said body member; a sleeve threaded on said mandrel, said sleeve being axially movable, upon rotation of said mandrel relative to said sleeve, from a rst position in which the sleeve is in locking engagement with the inwardly protruding ends of said slips in said bore to constrain said slips in retracted position to a second position to release Said slips for expansion; means to rotate said mandrel with respect to said sleeve; and means to urge said slips into expanded positions.

10. A liner hanger comprising apparatus according to claim 9 in which the said mandrel is detachably attached to said body member by means, which, while maintaining said attachment, permits relative rotation but prevents longitudinal motion of said mandrel relative to said body member.

11. A liner hanger comprising apparatus according to claim 9 in which the said mandrel is detachably attached to said body member by frangible means, which, while maintaining said attachment, permits relative rotation but prevents longitudinal motion of said mandrel relative to said body member.

12. The combination with a liner hanger having slips and slip expanding means wherein the slips are provided with slip restraining elements which project into the interior of the liner hanger when the slips are in their retracted position, of a setting tool comprising: a tubular mandrel adapted to be rigidly connected with a tubing string and extending into said liner hanger; means forming a connection between said mandrel and liner hanger separable by downward motion of said mandrel relative to said hanger; a sleeve screw-threaded to the exterior of said mandrel, said sleeve including means engageable with said hanger when in one position to prevent downward motion of said mandrel relative to said hanger and means extending into said liner hanger for restraining said slips in retracted position by engagement with said slip-restraining elements, said sleeve being axially movable upon rotation of said mandrel relative to said sleeve to release said slip-restraining elements to permit expansion of said slips and to permit downward movement of said mandrel relative to said hanger to separate said connection; means for rotating said mandrel relative to said sleeve; and resilient means operative to move said slips into extended positions upon release of said slip restraining elements.

LLOYD SPENCER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 891,065 Heeter June 16, 1908 1,242,539 Fuller Oct. 9, 1917 387,675 Dresser Aug. 14, 1888 

